Praise for Rand is overdue

RE “Ready for a Close-up” [Sept. 1]: Finally, after all of these years, The Times has recognized that there is another great architectural photographer in Los Angeles besides Julius Shulman. Yes, Julius is good, but Marvin Rand -- in my opinion -- is at least as good.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, I commissioned photography for the architectural firm of Welton Becket and Associates and I used Rand almost exclusively. His work was always outstanding.

MARTIN A. BROWER

Corona del Mar

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Some 20 years ago or so, I and another architect/photo buff friend took a class from Mr. Rand at UCLA Extension.

He definitely was a character. If we were shooting with a 35-millimeter camera -- as of course most of us were -- he insisted we use a PC (perspective correction or shift) lens so our vertical lines would stay parallel. For years afterward I noted all the published photos of architecture with extreme converging lines. Obviously those photographers had never crossed paths with Mr. Rand.

JOHN NISLEY

El Segundo

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